To celebrate Earth Day, Friday, April 22, the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea will feature the creation of handmade paper from recycled cotton rags and native Kentucky bluegrass by Berea artist Virginia Petty, and feature works by Kentucky artisans who use recycled materials in their creations.

On Earth Day, from 10:30 am -3:30 pm Virginia Petty will demonstrate making handmade paper from both recycled cotton rags and native bluegrass. Her demonstrations will also offer visitors the opportunity to make their very own sheet of paper either recycled cotton rag paper or bluegrass paper. Petty, a book artist from Berea, creates paper from a wide variety of native plants harvested throughout the central Kentucky region. She is the author of the book, “A Papermaker’s Season” a limited edition, hand-bound book describing her experiments and adventures with plants and papermaking. This book, available at the Center, includes discourses and instructions on how to make paper from twenty-five different plants harvested and processed along with swatches of the papers made from them.

In further celebration of Earth Day, the Kentucky Artisan Center will spotlight with special signage, works by Kentucky artisans who use recycled materials, surplussed materials, seconds, and other materials that might otherwise end up in landfills to create their art! Included will be pins made from inner tubes by Jane DiTeresa, Yardbirds sculptures created from surplus metal parts, and folk art by Twyla and Lonnie Money who incorporate aluminum cans and  recycled materials into their work.

Visit the Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea on Earth Day, Friday, April 22, to watch recycled paper being made and see the amazing array of Kentucky art made from recycled materials. The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is located just off Interstate 75 at exit 77 (Berea). The Center’s exhibits, shopping, and travel information areas are all open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the café from 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Admission is free. The Center currently features works by more than 520 artisans from all across the Commonwealth. For more information call 859-985-5448 or visit the Center’s web site at www.kentuckyartisancenter.ky.gov

The Kentucky Artisan Center at Berea is an agency in the Commerce Cabinet of the Commonwealth of
Kentucky.